Electrical massaging instrument



Patented pr '7, i925.

tlbllll STATES tenaz rarest lorries,v

ARTHUR VIINTERFIELD, Oli NEX/27 YORK, N. Y., SSEGNOR TO MEEICAL ELECTRIC AIP@- PARATUS CORPORATION, Ol NE'i/V YORK, -l'. Y., A CORPORATION 0F DEL A.Viitfltlf.y

ELECTRCAL MASSGING INSTRUMENT.

vApplication filed October 28, 1920, ASerial No. 420,127.

To @ZZ whom t may concern.'

Be it known that L ARTHUR VINTERFIELD; formerly a citizen of the German Republic; but having now filed his declaration of intention to become a citizen of the United States, residing in New York city, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Massaging instruments; of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to an electrica massaging instrument of the self-contained type and has for its object to provide said instrument with an improved electrode which renders the same particularly adaptable .for general use over the entire body of a patient. The electrodes herein contemplated are in the form of .rollers mounted parallel to each other on one face of the instrument. alternate rollers being oppositely electrified so that the electric current will pass from one roller to the next through the body of the patient. Another feature contemplated in the presentiinvention consists in the provision of means for rendering the intensityrcf the electric current adjustable over avwide range so that the instrument may be regulated by the operator to the intensity of current whichis most beneficial and then make it possible to begin a treatment with comparatively weak current and gradually increase the saine until the maiiimum intensity -is finally reached. This means consists in the preferred form of embodiment in a rheostat which is inserted into the electric circuitof the instrument.

Various other features and objects of the invention will be understood from the following detailed description of a specific form of embodiment of the invention, having reference to the accompanying drawing, in which- V yFigure 1 is a. side view vof one form 'of embodiment of the invention;

Figure, a bottom plan view of Figure 1,

the right hand portion of the 'instrument being shown broken away; f

Figure 2a; a top Yplan view of Figure 1, the left hand portion of the instrument having been broken away; v

Figure 3, a view showing. a horizontal Ysection of Figure 1 taken on lines III-JIL looking inthe direction ofthe arrows;

'trated in Figure 3.

Figure 4t, a fragmental view showing the manner-in which the roller electrodes yare mounted on the box;

Figure 5, a view similar to Figure fl, showing the manner in which the metallic bristle electrodes are mounted on the boX; and

Figure (E, a diagrammatic view showing the preferred form of circuit connections employed'in the illustrated embodiment of inv invention. Y

Similar characters of rererence designate similar parts in each of the several views. The instrument consists' of a container or bof: 1 provided ufith a hand piece 2; this hand piece being secured to the box by means of the bolt 3 and screws 4; as illus The one face of the b :r 1 is provided with a plurality of roller electrodes 5. which electrodes consist of hollow cylindrical members 6 mounted on shafts '.7; which shafts are journaled 1in bearing members 8'; affixed to the wall 9 ot'. the box b v means of screws 10. The outer ends ofthe members 8 are rounded oit' so as to take 'away all rough edges andV corners which might injure the patient in using the instrument.

The oppositey face of the box is provided with metallic bristle electrodes 11 intended for usezprimarily on the scalp. 'Each of the bristles is provided with a flat head. as illustrated in Figure 5; which head makes Contact with metallic plates 12 and 121 these plates being spaced apart from each other and affixed bv screws 13 to the wooden face wall 14: ofthe box 1. The Shanks of the bristles extend through perforations in a sheet of soft-rubber 15 which sheet lcovers the entire face of the boX and is held in place by a metallic flange 16 securedvby screws to the walls of the box. as illustrated in Figure 5. The points of the bristles are rounded off to prevent scratching or other injury during the use of the instrument.

inside the box 1 is provided a vibrator 17 of the usual type and a variable resistance rheostat 18. This rheostat comprises an annular coil of wire 19 with which a Y 2O and, therefore, the resistance ot the rheostat may be controlled.

A -lash-flight -battery 23 of the usual type is mounted in the hand piece 2, -a screw cap 24 and spring 25 serving to hold the battery in place. The terminal 26 ot the battery is thus forced into contact with the end ot the bolt 8, which bolt is insulated at 27 trom the casing ot the hand piece and conducts the current from the battery to the vibrator contact 28. The other terminal of the battery is connected through the casing ot the hand piece -2 to one ot the screws et, a switch 29 of the usual flashlight type being` interposed in this connection to cont-rol the current supply.

The circuit connections are illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 6. 1t Will be observed tron-i this diagram that the current 'from battery 23 flows through switch 29, through the Winding of lthe vibrator l?, the rheostat 18, and through the vibrator contact 28 'back `to the other terminal ot the battery. Owing to the interruptions of the current by the' vibrator contact, an electromotive force ot comparatively high voltage is set up at the terminals of the vibrator Winding so that current enters the conductors 30 and 30, flows into the plates 12 and 12a, thus electrifying the bristles mounted thereon and passing from the electrodes ot the one plate into those or" the other through the scalp ot the patient using the instrument. Theconductors 30 and 302L are connected also to alternate roller electrodes 5 so that zthe current passes from the electrodes through the ybody ot the patient. Terminals 3l yand 31a, mounted on the side Walls o1- the box l, are also associated with conductors 30 and 30, these terminals being provided to permit of a pair of hand electrodes 32 and 323' to be connected therewith by wires 453 and 33a.

The method of using the instrument may -noW be readily understood. For a scalp massage the instrument is grasped at the hand piece 2, the switch 29 is thrown to the oli-position and the knurled head 22 is 'turned to the position at which the cur-rent strength is most suitable for the patient. It desired apointer may be attached to this lknur'led head, which pointer may be arranged to cooperate With a scale, the in dices of'vvhich serve to show the strength oi the current which will'be obtained with a particular position ot the rheostat contact.` This adjustability of the current is a 'highly 'important feature, as it permits of an adjustment ot the current to the required strength, thus preventing excessive vshock and injury to a person highly susceptible thereto and at the same time renderin the instrument usable with eiiectiveness y a person Ynot so susceptible. vThis rheostat permits also of a gradual increase 'in the current during a treatment or of a gradual stepping up of the current btWGI- l succe/ssive treatments, as the patient gets more and more accustomed thereto.

The roller electrodes are beneiicial tor general body treatments ,and ,are of particular' value because they permit of a gentle massage of k,the affected part during the treatment. rlhe hand electrodes are, as the name indicates, to be grasped by the hands ot the patient so that the current during the treatment will pass through the entire upper part of the body.

Although l have herein shown and described only one particular form and ernbodiment ot my invention, it is 'to `be understood lthat various changes .and modifications may be made therein within the scope ot the following claims, Without departing trom the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

i. An electrical massaging instrument comprising a plurality of vroller electrodes and a plurality ot sets ci bristle electrodes mounted on the tace of the instrument, a source of current Within said instrument, means tor electrit'ying both said rollers and said bristle electrodes by said source ot current and means for regulating the intensity ot electrii'ication of said electrodes.

The device of claim l in Which said yregulating means comp-rises a resistance -rl eostat.

An electrical massaging instrument having a hollow handle, a battery in said handle, an interrupter mounted Within said instrument and-associated with said'battery,

rheostat for adjusting the strength of current furnished to said interruptor by said battery, saidv rheostat being mounted `Within said instrument 'but having an operating member extending to the exterior thereof, a plurality of `roller electrodes mounted :on the exterior of -said instrument, said electrodes being provided with rounded ends, means for lassociating alternate electrodes with opposite terminals l.on said interruptor and a pair of terminals on the :exterior of said box associated WithV the terminals of said interruptor and a pair of hand electrodes adapted Vto be Vassociated With said terminals.

4L. An electrical massaging instrument comprising a casing, a handle therefor, a plurality of pairs ot roller electrodes mounted on the exterior of said casing, a battery provided Within said instrument, means associated withy said battery for pro.- ducing a current of potential higher than that of the battery current, `and means for connectingalternate. pairs voi" said electrodes to said means so as to produce opposite potential in alternate electrodes.

5. An instrument of the ncharacter .described, comprising a casing, a hollow han die therefor, a source or current in said handle, a `plurality or" roller electrodes mounted on one tace of the casing, a brush comprising metallic bristles mounted on another face ot the casing, means within said casing associated with said source of current tor impressing on said roller electrodes, and on the bristles of the brush potential higher than that ot the said source, and means for regulating said potential, said means comprising an operating member mounted on the exterior of said casing.

6. An instrument of the character described, comprising a casing, a hollow handle therefor, a battery in saidhandle, a switch on said handle for governing the flow of current from said battery, said switch comprising an operating member on the exterior off the instrument, a plurality ot roller electrodes mounted on the face ot said casing, an interruptor provided in said casing and associated with said battery for impressing on said electrodes potential higher than that of the battery current, and means in said casing tor regulating said potential, said means comprising anoperating member mounted on the exterior of said casing.

7. ln an instrument of the character described, a casing, a hollow handle provided on said casing, a source ot current in said handle, a switch on said handle for governingthe How of current from said source, a plurality of electrodes mounted on the exterior of the casing, means interior to said casing for impressing on said e1ec trodes current of potential greater than that of the said source of current, and means for govern-ing the electrification of said electrodes, said means comprising an operating member mounted on the exterior of the casing.

8. In an instrument of the character described, a casing", a hollow handle therefor,

` a source olf current provided in said handle,

a switch on said handle for governing the flow of current from said source, an interrupter mounted within said casing and associated with said battery, a plurality of electrodes on the exterior of .said casing, means Jfor impressing current from said interrupt-er on said electrodes, a resistance rheostat mounted within said casing for governing the electrification of said electrodes, and an operating member for said rheostat, said member extending to the exterior of saidcasing.

9. In an instrument of the character described, a plurality ot pairs of roller electrodes mounted on one face of the casing, a series or bristle electrodes mounted on the other face ofthe casing, a plurality of terminals on said casing, a pair of hand electrodes adapted to be associated with said terminals and means interior to said casing for electritying said roller and bristle and hand electrodes, said means comprising an interrupter, a source of current, and means for governing the intensity vof electrication of said electrodes, said means comprising a resistance rheostat associated with said interrupter.

In testimony whereof I have afxed my signature to this specification.

ARTHUR WINTERFIELD. 

